Typically, I've grown tired of zombie movies. Although classics like 28 Days Later along with the initial episodes from The Walking Dead were gripping, the genre feels mostly depleted at this point. Yet the much-awaited 28 Years Later remains gathering dust in my watchlist for some time. However, Netflix's new Southeast Asian zombie flick, The Elixir, succeeded in subvert what I anticipated and proved quite enjoyable.
Excellent Pacing and Character Growth
One of this movie's greatest assets lies in the excellent rhythm. It kicks off with a memorable initial scene where a calm family gathering gets suddenly interrupted by a van crashes right into the seating section. From the wreckage, a very undead-looking individual stumbles out proceeding attacking the attendees. This dramatic scene is immediately followed by a flashback, allowing us to see the family prior to the disaster occurred.
In contrast to numerous undead movies, The Elixir truly gives the audience sufficient time to get to know its main characters prior to the chaos ensues. We meet Nes, a wife and mother whose ex best friend, Karina, is now wed to Nes' father—a clearly awkward situation. This has understandably led to a falling out between the two women. Then there's her sibling, Bang, described as kind-hearted but a bit inept socially, and he enjoys gaming with his nephew, Raihan. Nes' husband, Rudi, seems to have recently cheated on Nes. The family patriarch is her dad, the owner of a popular herbal remedy company named Wani Waras, and he seems focused on only two things: his work and his wife to his daughter's ex-best friend. Needless to say, this family reunion proves extremely tense.
Invested in the Conflict
I found myself so invested with this household's issues along with their personal conflicts to the point I nearly forgot I was watching a horror film—which might sound like a negative, but in the end paid off. The Elixir spends a significant portion of its runtime to showing us the identity of every relative is, plus the ways they add to the overall turmoil. This focus on conflicting personalities enabled the audience to relate to the personalities enough to be concerned for their outcome—a rare accomplishment in a genre which frequently introduces characters just to kill them off soon after. The Elixir avoids portraying its characters as flat, expendable casualties for an army of the undead to devour, thus it's a real surprise when things finally go wrong.
Reminiscent of Parasite
The opening sequences of the party and the multiple family interactions actually evoke the movie Parasite, a story which disguises itself as a K-Drama with slightly dark comedy before making a sudden shift toward shocking ground. These introductory scenes aren't centered too heavily on comedy as Parasite, but The Elixir nonetheless provides enough time to immerse in the setting prior to it gets upended.
Original Infection Origin
The film additionally presents a quite interesting reason regarding the origin of the spreading zombification. Rather than an accidental laboratory incident or some sort of biological weapon, the cause of this contagious disease originates in a recent sample from Wani Waras herbal remedies created by her dad. Although we do learn a bit about how it started, I wish the film devoted additional focus explaining how Wani Waras went from a trusted supplier of holistic medicine to producing a deadly potion which seems to include an extremely infectious virus. Despite the lack of context, the effect this affliction produces on humans is utterly repulsive, which I love it. The Elixir's undead are quick, freaky-looking, and, perhaps worst of all, constantly grinning. This represents a daring choice, but it works. The Elixir's practical effects and CGI are also quite convincing, and they're practically certain to trigger one's trypophobia.
Resourceful Personalities
More impressive than the disgusting moments are the characters themselves. Certainly, we see some examples of questionable choices (like any any good undead film), but generally, Nes and her relatives show themselves resourceful and quick-thinking. They also aren't afraid to strike a zombie in the head, pierce it using a farm tool, or beat it on the skull with whatever heavy object is available rather than standing still like a deer caught in lights as death approaches.
Believable Familial Discord
The Elixir doesn't drop its focus of familial discord when people begin transforming to the undead, this proved a pleasantly authentic subversion from the "We don't get along|"We have issues, but since you nearly died I immediately forgive you for everything! cliché often seen in end-of-world movies. Obviously, Nes loves her family and values her spouse, Rudi, yet it's equally apparent she's still holding onto bitterness over his betrayal in their relationship. When the family becomes split up, they decide via telephone to regroup at a close spot. However, once Bang reveals he is unaware the way to the location, Nes expresses a massive amount of frustration toward Bang that's clearly been brewing over time. Nes is not flawless, and her family—with all their imperfections—seem realistic and understandable because the film avoids attempting to push the idea that nearly dying immediately resolves familial strife. This causes those instances where these individuals express appreciation toward one another seem much more sincere.
Stereotypical Conclusion
Despite The Elixir's best attempts to break new ground, the conclusion must be said to be somewhat formulaic. The Elixir isn't really presenting some profound insight about family or community, either. Rather, it's mostly delivering scares. Yet these are successful scares, and because the film allows every personality sufficient space to grow and avoids penalizing them for their imperfections, the result is an engaging and entertaining
